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Tobacco Litigation

Various lawsuits were filed against tobacco companies by individuals and states, alleging that tobacco products caused health problems such as cancer and respiratory diseases. The Master Settlement Agreement in 1998 required tobacco companies to pay states billions of dollars for healthcare costs.

Asbestos Litigation

Asbestos exposure led to numerous lawsuits from workers and consumers who developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Companies that manufactured or used asbestos products faced extensive litigation and many filed for bankruptcy.

Vioxx Litigation

Merck & Co. faced thousands of lawsuits over their painkiller Vioxx, which was linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. In 2007, Merck agreed to a $4.85 billion settlement.

Roundup Litigation

Monsanto faced lawsuits from individuals claiming that exposure to Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide, caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Bayer, which acquired Monsanto, agreed to pay up to $10.9 billion to settle current and future claims in 2020.

Transvaginal Mesh Litigation

Multiple manufacturers of transvaginal mesh devices faced lawsuits from women who suffered severe complications, such as pain and organ damage, after receiving the implants. Settlements have reached billions of dollars.

BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Following the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, BP faced a class action lawsuit from businesses and individuals affected by the environmental disaster. BP agreed to a $20 billion settlement.

Volkswagen Emissions Scandal

Volkswagen faced a class action lawsuit after it was revealed that the company had installed software in diesel vehicles to cheat emissions tests. Volkswagen agreed to a settlement worth over $15 billion in the U.S. alone.

Equifax Data Breach

In 2017, Equifax experienced a data breach that exposed the personal information of 147 million people. A class action lawsuit led to a settlement of up to $700 million.

NFL Concussion Litigation

Former NFL players filed a class action lawsuit against the league, alleging it failed to protect them from and inform them about the risks of concussions. The NFL agreed to a settlement that could exceed $1 billion over time.

Wells Fargo Unauthorized Accounts

Wells Fargo faced a class action lawsuit after it was discovered that the bank had opened millions of unauthorized accounts in customers' names. The bank agreed to pay $142 million to settle the claims.

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